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We went to the kitchen and Austin ended up asking me if I had something to eat. It had been a while since I had grocery shopped, but I made him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
“Just like when I was a kid.”
He took a bite and started to cry again. I went to soothe him, and he once again buried his head in my shoulder. Austin pulled me hard against him and wrapped his arms around my back so tightly that it hurt.
“She’s in a better place. She isn’t hurting and probably smiling down at us.” I said.
Austin sacked out in one of my guest rooms. We were meeting Roman in the morning to make funeral arrangements. Edith wanted to be cremated, and they would sprinkle her ashes in the Atlantic Ocean. She loved visiting Coney Island as a child and wanted to spend eternity there.
I woke up at five and stared at the ceiling for a little while before I got up to shower. Austin came into my room just as I was walking out of the bathroom with a thick white towel wrapped around me. He looked at me with hunger in his eyes, then focused on the floor.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve knocked.”
“Do you need something?” I asked.
“You have no towels in the guest bath. I wiped my hands on my jeans.”
“Linen closet in the hall. Help yourself.”
“Can I ask you a favor?”
I clung to the knot in my towel. “Sure, anything.”
“Can I stay here while I’m in the city? I can’t stay at my grandmother’s place right now. I’ll go back to clean up some stuff later this week. Roman is going to help.”
“You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need, but what about Jessie?”
“She can’t make it. She has some work thing going on.”
“Doesn’t she teach kindergarten?”
“Yes, but a few teachers are out because of the flu.”
“Still, though. I mean, you’re her fiancé. She should be here for you.”
“I already hashed this out with her.”
His tone was glacial, and I nodded, not wanting to inflame him any more than he already was.
“Is there anything else you need? I want to get dressed.”
“No, thank you. Can I make some coffee?”
“Help yourself.”
Austin left the room, and I went into the closet to get dressed. I would be taking the day off so that I could help Roman and Austin make arrangements for the funeral. Edith had given them specific instructions on what she wanted.
I finally met Roman who was a younger, shorter version of Austin except he had beer colored eyes rather than amber. We spent the day picking out flowers, speaking with the reverend at Edith’s church and making arrangements for the cremation. We would have the memorial service in two days.
Austin and Roman came back to my home to make phone calls to friends and loved ones. I stayed in my office working from home. Diane forwarded me some paperwork that needed my electronic signature. I was in the midst of sending emails when Austin peeked in the door.
“Roman is leaving. I’m going to take a nap.”
“You need it.”
“So do you. You look very tired. What are you doing anyway?”
“Working. I need to keep busy.”
